The Downside
Don’t
expect the Nucleus Micro System to fill a huge room. Despite their
ability to resolve musical images, portray bombastic action sequences
in movies with good authority and play louder than they look like they
should, they will seem a bit anemic in a large room, especially one
with a high ceiling. I started off in a large lively room. When the
system was later installed in my reference system where the room is
smaller, the Nucleus package really came to life. Midrange thinness
diminished quite a bit and the TR-1 seemed to blend much better. But
even in this environment, they do have a limit as to how loud they will
play before they exhibit duress, and it may not fit everyone’s
requirement for loud music and movies. If you’ve got a room that is
more than 15 x 20 feet, consider using larger Gallo Acoustics speakers,
paired with a powerful receiver or amplifier.

On a
personal level and perhaps less a downside than a suggestion, I would
recommend mounting the Micros. Their small size leaves them vulnerable
to being knocked off of the O-ring supplied with the speakers. Although
most people buying these speakers will not run up against this issue,
my Cardas Golden Cross speaker cables kept trying to drag the speakers
off of the surfaces they were sitting on and I had to strain relieve
them during the review. If your speaker cable could be tripped on or
accidentally caught on a dust mop or vacuum cleaner, then gravity will
not be your friend. Gallo provides great mounting options, which should
be utilized.

Conclusion
I have to admit that, while initially skeptical about a speaker package
of this nature, the Anthony Gallo Nucleus Micro System has caught my
attention and earned my respect. The Nucleus Micros’ ability to capture
the layering and detail of music was surprising. The midrange was a
touch on the lean side, but this is more a matter of taste than
performance. The TR-1 subwoofer did a good job of supporting the
satellites with a nice, tight low-frequency presentation. While not the
lowest I’ve heard in this price range, the TR-1 did justice to the
upper frequencies that the Nucleus Micro satellites created without
doing anything wrong. The sound was satisfyingly enveloping on
DVD-Audio and SACD material, and movie soundtracks were impressive,
giving enough visceral impact to action scenes while seamlessly
handling complex movie soundtracks and maintaining a nice tonal
balance. Space-limited, money-conscious and aesthetically-minded
individuals will want to audition these Anthony Gallo Micros. They will
provide, within their limits, a well-balanced solution that must be
heard to be appreciated. They certainly changed my bias. I believe they
will have the same effect on you as well. These speakers are the best I
have heard in the micro class. If a small, affordable, low-visibility
speaker is your desire, this high-resolution gem is a perfect choice.